Chief, Chief, Wheres Your Name?
Too bad the Chief of Police has done a splendid job of keeping his name out of the newspaper since taking office almost 10 months ago.
I had not thought much about him until he turned up in a starring role yesterday afternoon for the Chamber of Commerces Public Safety Awards Luncheon at the Vets Auditorium.
I am going to guess he appreciates that.
All in His Family
Listening to Mr. Pedersen liltingly recite biographies of the Police Dept. employees who were being honored, I was reminded of past Fathers Day scenes at the family dinner table.
He is not really the avuncular type. At times, he is like Perry Como in cop clothing.
He arrives and assumes charge with the disarming ease of one pulling on a pair of old slippers.
Do Lunch? No, Thanks
At 46 years old, he is younger than a fair number of cops. This is quickly neutralized by his subtle, paternalistic manner.
For working people there I go again, sounding like a Democrat weekday lunch-hour ceremonies are not well-timed. The mostly police-fire crowd filled every chair in the Rotunda Room.
Capitalizing on the Moment
But Mr. Pedersen sensitively maximized what might have been a mundane inside moment by adding an appreciated touch. Separately, he summoned the family members of each honoree to the front of the room.
You want to see what they look like, and, as a journalist, you want to see how they react to a fleeting moment of attention. You also want to see what the family group looks like together.
Mr. Pedersen executed this classy moment in an understated way.
Pushes the Spotlight Away
After talking about how the Police Dept. is family, he asked without drawing attention to himself relatives and almost-relatives to join their loved one.
This is the way a leader is meant to comport himself.
Mr. Pedersen never has given the impression that by the time he qualifies for retirement in a few years he wants to be remembered as the Most Written-About Police Chief in Culver City history.
Quite the opposite.
Triplets, They Aint
The only resemblance he bears to his two loquacious predecessors is height.
Unlike Ted Cooke and John Montanio, Mr. Pedersen gives up little of himself.
This is not in the tradition of Culver City.
Born for the Spotlight
Mr. Cooke is a born raconteur. I would argue with anyone who disputes the assertion he is the most colorful, fascinating person to stride across the Culver City landscape in our lifetime.
My first meeting with Mr. Cooke lasted longer than my first marriage not that the two landmark events could be synthesized without the deft aid of an unemployed magician.
Which One Do I Choose?
I still am debating which occasion was more interesting, although she isnt.
Mr. Montanio was not nearly as open or forthcoming as Mr. Cooke. But he could qualify, out toward the periphery, as a shmoozer.
Turning Serious
Given the seemingly elastic number of once and former Culver City police officers who are bringing complaints against the department this season, Mr. Pedersen may be well advised to keep his sense of humor handy and polished to the highest gloss.
Perhaps he should hire Jackie Mason as his next assistant police chief if, that is, Mr. Mason is rejected as Culver Citys first fulltime Chief Financial Officer later this year.
